Thailand throws a lifeline to SMEs for much-needed economic boost
Thai businesses have been lagging behind in innovation compared to its ASEAN peers. In particular, small enterprises have been struggling financially to the point of some closing shop. Since Thailand’s general election last May 2023, its real GDP growth rate reached its lowest at 1.2 per cent during the third quarter of 2025. Political instability,... Read More →
Higher borrowing costs threaten the UK’s 2026 budget
The UK’s fiscal deficit shows no sign of narrowing as government expenses continue to outpace tax revenues. September 2025 recorded the highest yield on the UK’s 30-year bonds since 1998. The bonds, also called gilts, were priced at 5.72 per cent, making it more expensive for the British government to borrow money to fund its... Read More →
Green tech might do more than save Germany’s environment
Solely focusing on climate change adaptation obscures the view about green tech’s ability to push the German economy forward. “So that solar and wind do not destroy our homeland” reads one of the election campaign posters of a German political party currently leading in the polls, Alternative for Germany (AfD). They are not alone in... Read More →
Brazil’s growth momentum and what lies ahead
The story of strong job creation and a resilient services sector continues in Brazil, but looming political risks, high inflation, and cautious monetary policy suggest a slower growth momentum ahead. Brazil’s GDP rose by 2.2 per cent year-on-year in April-June 2025, marking its 18th consecutive quarter of growth even as real interest rates hit historic... Read More →
Malaysia goes big with manufacturing
Malaysia’s manufacturing sector has contracted for the past year due to higher production costs and the impact of US tariffs. The government hopes to boost the industry with policy support and through economic integration. The resurgence of global trade protectionism due to higher US tariffs created unease in goods trade for the Southeast Asian region,... Read More →
Aging infrastructure, aging society: the double burden of Japanese real estate
Japan’s property sector mirrors its demographic reality: as the population ages, so do the nation’s homes and infrastructure. While this poses fiscal risks, it also presents fresh opportunities. It is well documented how Japan’s population has been aging quite rapidly for years. The demographic shift has garnered a lot of attention, mainly as a... Read More →
Cultivating Indonesia’s humble agriculture sector
Despite domestic and international challenges, President Prabowo Subianto envisions Indonesia as self-sufficient in food production and push the agricultural industry forward. Can his administration cultivate the sector to further economic growth? Protests in Indonesia a few weeks ago, triggered by the income disparity between its citizens and politicians, have created greater unease within the... Read More →
Gloomy clouds hound UK skies amid high inflation
Inflation in the UK continues to rise, further pushing the British economy into pessimism. Still, the Bank of England chooses to believe that this regime will be temporary. UK inflation clocked in at 3.8 per cent in August 2025, nearly twice as fast as the 2 per cent target. This is the same rate... Read More →
Brazil’s small-cap stocks shine amid political risks
Strong domestic momentum and improving fiscal perception are boosting small-cap stocks in Brazil, but high interest rates, political uncertainty, and trade tensions still weigh heavily on the investment landscape. In Brazil, stocks of small-capitalization companies, or small caps, have a market value under BRL 10 billion (USD 1.87 billion). These firms usually have lower... Read More →
Resuscitating the German economy with startups
Startup funding in Germany is picking up speed and could help fuel growth, but obstacles remain. Germany seems unable to catch a break. Amid rising concerns that the US’ tariff deal with the EU will constrain growth in the foreseeable future, updated GDP growth data paint a grim picture: that Germany had been caught... Read More →